Brandon Belt forces Jaime Barria to throw a record 21 pitches before flying out to right field
Facing rookie Jaime Barria of the Angels in the 1st inning, Brandon Belt of the Giants forces him to throw a record 21 pitches before flying out to right field. The 12-minute battle features 16 consecutive foul balls at one point, in addition to four unsuccessful pick-off attempts at first base. The previous record was 20 pitches, in a 1998 confrontation between Ricky Gutierrez and Bartolo Colon, although detailed pitch counts have only been tracked since 1988, so there may have been longer at-bats before that which went unrecorded.
Shohei Ohtani makes his pitching debut
2018 – Three days after being the starting designated hitter on Opening Day in his major league debut, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani makes his debut on the mound, pitching 6 innings in leading the Angels to a 7 – 4 win over the Athletics. The only blemish on his ledger is a three-run homer by Matt Chapman in the 2nd. Ohtani is the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to start as a position player on opening day and then start a game on the mound within his team’s first ten games. Joe Bush and Clarence Mitchell had also started games on the mound and in the field in their first ten games in 1920.
Royals take a 2-0 lead in their ALDS stunning the Angels in extras
On October 3, 2014.00 In the final postseason contest of the day, the Royals take a 2-0 lead in their ALDS, once again stunning the Angels, 4 – 1, courtesy of a two-run homer by 1B Eric Hosmer in the 11th. The Royals are the first team to win three straight postseason games in extra…
Albert Pujols becomes the 26th member of the 500 Home Run Club
Albert Pujols becomes the 26th member of the 500 Home Run Club as he goes deep twice against Taylor Jordan of the Washington Nationals, in the 1st and 5th innings. He is the first member of the fraternity to hit #499 and 500 in the same game. The Angels win, 7 – 2.
Angels commit 3 errors on 1 play
Ian Kinsler scores from first on a base-on-balls as the result of the Angels committing three errors on the same play in the first inning of the Tigers’ 2-1 victory over the Angels at Comerica Park. The unusual route to home begins when backstop Hank Conger, to thwart Kinsler’s potential theft of second base, throws a called ball four to batter Miguel Cabrera into centerfield, where Mike Trout makes an error on his throw to third trying to nail the base runner now advancing to third, who will score when pitcher Hector Santiago makes an errant toss to the plate.
Ervin Santana, facing only two hitters over the minimum, no-hits the Indians at Progressive Field, 3-1
Ervin Santana, facing only two hitters over the minimum, no-hits against the hometown Indians at Progressive Field, 3-1. The Tribe’s only run against the Angels’ right-hander is the result of a first-inning wild pitch run following an error by shortstop Erick Aybar.
The Angels sign DH Hideki Matsui, the MVP of the 2009 World Series, to a one-year deal.
The Angels sign DH Hideki Matsui, the MVP of the 2009 World Series, to a one-year deal.
Percival returns home to toss first pitch
On April 2, 2007, Troy Percival throws out the first pitch for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prior to their opening day game against the Rangers. Percival, who pitched for the Angels from 1995-2004 and was one the mound when the team won the 2002 World Series, had signed a minor league contract earlier in the day to allow him to retire as a member of the organization.
Kazuhiro Sasaki sets the rookie record for saves by notching his 37th
In the season finale, Kazuhiro Sasaki sets the rookie record for saves by notching his 37th when he tosses 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in the Mariners’ 5-2 victory over Los Angeles at Edison Field. The 32 year-old Japanese closer surpasses Todd Worrell’s mark established in 1986 when the right-handed reliever played for the Cardinals.